Utilization of infant activated audio player

ABSTRACT

One aspect of the present disclosure include a method of utilizing an oro-motor device to activate an audio device, the method includes providing an oro-motor device having a sensor and a nipple; producing a signal when the nipple portion present in an infant&#39;s mouth when the nipple portion yields a first measured pressure over an age appropriate predetermined threshold applied to the nipple portion by the infant; responsive to the signal, playing an age appropriate audio recording for a predetermined duration on an audio device; and raising the age appropriate predetermined threshold to a raised threshold proportionally to a difference between the first measured pressure application to the nipple portion and the age appropriate predetermined threshold.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The following application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 371 tointernational PCT application serial number PCT/US08/XXX,XXX filed Oct.8, 2018 entitled UTILIZATION OF INFANT ACTIVATED AUDIO PLAYER that waspublished on XXX, XX, 2019 under international publication numberWO/2019/XXX,XXX, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/569,088 filed Oct. 9, 2017entitled UTILIZATION OF INFANT ACTIVATED AUDIO PLAYER. Priority isclaimed for all the above-identified applications and publication, allof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties forall purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to an audio device and sensorcombination, and more particularly to an audio device and sensorcombination for use in neonatal care with and without a system used tostimulate and improve speech sound differentiation in infants, preterminfants, and/or premature infants using oro-motor responses.

BACKGROUND

Research has shown that preterm and premature infants and/or infantsborn with neurological insult have delay and/or impairment resultingfrom hospitalization (e.g., hospitalization necessary for survival). Thelack of audio interaction, particularly parental audio interaction, is amajor contributor to developmental delay and/or impairment. Infantslacking such audio interaction tend to have inferior speech sounddifferentiation. There is a temporal window at which speech sounddifferentiation occurs in both infants and preterm infants. During thattemporal window, sound differentiation is attenuated in preterm infantscompared to term infants. The attenuated sound differentiation inpreterm infants predicts inferior language outcomes at two years of age.

Generally, preterm and premature infants are housed in small isolettesor cribs. The preterm and premature infants are held skin-to-skin two tothree times per day for about forty-five (45) minutes. These preterm andpremature infants often lack parental interaction, and thus, normalparental stimuli and the resulting benefits of such interaction.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure comprises a method of utilizing anoro-motor device to activate an audio device, the method includesproviding an oro-motor device, comprising a sensor and a depressibleportion, producing an output signal when the depressible portion iscompressed yielding a first measured pressure over an age appropriatepredetermined threshold applied to the depressible portion, responsiveto the output signal, playing an age appropriate audio recording for apredetermined duration on an audio device and increasing the ageappropriate predetermined threshold to a raised threshold proportionallyto a difference between the first measured pressure to the depressibleportion and the age appropriate predetermined threshold.

Another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a non-transitorycomputer readable medium storing machine executable instructions forutilizing an oro-motor device to activate an audio device. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium storing machine executableinstructions comprising a language system in electronic communicationwith an audio device, a sensing device comprising a sensor, and aninterface, the interface configured to receive user data and the sensingdevice configured to send signals to the language system, the languagesystem providing at least one of a first recommendation or a secondrecommendation for sensing device sensor usage, a sensor threshold andsensor readings of the sensing device, a duration of audio output, andidentifies specific parameters for audio output. The language systembased upon the signal from the sensing device indicating the sensorthreshold has been exceeded, sends instructions to the audio device toemit an appropriate audio recording that conforms to the specificparameters for audio output for the assigned duration of audio output.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a language systemcomprising an audio device coupled an oro-motor device. The systemcomprising the oro-motor device comprising a nipple housing a sensor,wherein the sensor produces an output signal when said nipple portion iscompressed to a pressure over a first measured pressure over an ageappropriate predetermined threshold. The audio device comprising amicrocomputer in electrical communication with the oro-motor device, amicrophone, a speaker, and an interface, the microcomputer comprising alanguage algorithm, the language system responsive to a user inputreceived via the interface, assigns a sensor threshold and sensorreadings of the oro-motor device, assigns a duration of audio output,and identifies specific parameters for audio output, the language systembased upon the output signal from the oro-motor device indicating theage appropriate predetermined threshold has been exceeded, sendsinstructions to the audio device to emit an appropriate audio recordingthat conforms to the specific parameters for audio output for theassigned duration of audio output.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which thepresent disclosure relates upon consideration of the followingdescription of the disclosure with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals, unless otherwise describedrefer to like parts throughout the drawings and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an oro-motor device and anaudio device in accordance with one example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates the oro-motor device of FIG. 1 taken along sectionline 2-2 of FIG. 1 in accordance with one example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates the oro-motor device of FIG. 1 taken along sectionline 2-2 of FIG. 1 in accordance with a second example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4A illustrates the oro-motor device of FIG. 1 taken along sectionline 2-2 of FIG. 1 in accordance with a third example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4B illustrates the oro-motor device of FIG. 1 taken along sectionline 2-2 of FIG. 1 in accordance with a fourth example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an electrical schematic of electrical elements housedin an audio device in accordance with one example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram for a method of utilizing an audiodevice in accordance with a first example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram for a method of utilizing an audiodevice in accordance with a second example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram for a method of utilizing an audiodevice in accordance with a third example embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram for utilizing a system got use in anaudio device in accordance with another example embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.

The apparatus and method components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures generally wherein like numbered featuresshown therein refer to like elements throughout unless otherwise noted.The present disclosure generally relates to an audio device and sensorcombination, and more particularly to an audio device and sensorcombination for use in neonatal care with and without a system used tostimulate and improve speech sound differentiation in infants, preterminfants, and/or premature infants using oro-motor responses.

In FIG. 1 , an infant, child, or adult activated audio player or audiodevice 10 comprising a rectangular shape, and housing electroniccomponents 19, including a speaker 38, is connected to an oro-motordevice or pacifier 50. The oro-motor device 50 and the audio device 10are for promoting active learning in preterm infants by using audiooutput (e.g., parental speech, mother's voice, a women's voice, etc.)from the audio device to teach the preterm infant how to interact withthe oro-motor device, while using the oro-motor device to teach theinfant how to recognize speech (e.g., creating a learning feedbackloop). Additionally, the audio device 10 comprises a system (see FIG. 9) exposing infants, children, and adults, to non-native languages,thereby increasing speech sound differentiation in infants, children,and adults in the non-native language to which they are conditioned.

In one example embodiment, the audio device 10 comprises an externalmaterial of, for example, a rubber-like or pliable polymeric material,such as polypropylene and the like. Other shapes for the audio device,such as square, spherical, ellipsoid, superegg, and superellipsoidshapes are contemplated. In one example embodiment, the audio device 10has an overall greatest diameter, height, and/or width of about ten(10″) inches. The audio device 10 comprises a plurality of spaced apartapertures 20, 22 for accessing electronic components 19, as illustratedin FIG. 5 .

In the illustrated example embodiment of FIG. 5 , the first aperture 20comprises a USB input 20A and the second aperture 22 comprises acharging input 22A for the electric components 19. In another exampleembodiment, the audio device 10 comprises a single aperture, and thesingle aperture comprises both the charging port and the USB port. Inyet another example embodiment, the audio device 10 lacks an aperture.The audio device 10 comprises at least one of a short-range wirelessinterconnection signal transceiver 62, wherein audio input is input viathe short-range wireless transceiver.

The oro-motor device 50 is in wired 58 communication with the audiodevice 10 and/or in wireless communication, via a transceiver 60, withthe audio device. The oro-motor device 50 comprises a nipple portion 52,a sensor housing 53, a sensor 54, a guard portion 56, and a grip portion57. In an example embodiment, such as when the oro-motor device 50 iswireless, the oro-motor device comprises a power source 64 (e.g., suchas a lithium ion battery). The sensor 54 is connected to the powersource 64 (see, for example, FIG. 5 ) and/or a power source (e.g., abattery 30, as illustrated in FIG. 5 ) within the audio device 10.Further, the sensor 54 is in communication and/or powered with the audiodevice 10 via the wire 58 or the transceiver 60. In one exampleembodiment, the grip portion 57 and/or the guard portion 56 comprise thetransceiver 60. In another example embodiment, the grip portion 57and/or the guard portion 56 are connected to the wire 58.

The nipple portion 52 is deformable and hollow. The nipple portion 52comprises one or more of latex (e.g., natural latex rubber,non-vulcanized rubber, etc.), polymers (e.g., such as syntheticpolymers, for example silicone), hard plastic, or the like. The guardportion 56 comprises a rigid plastic, metal, or the like. In one exampleembodiment, the nipple portion 52 and the guard portion 56 comprise asame material and/or a unibody design, forming the sensor housing 53.The guard portion 56 comprises openings, such that in the event of theoro-motor device 50 being swallowed, the infant's breathing is notblocked. In one embodiment, the grip portion 57 comprises a ring (notshown).

Multiple sensor 54 types are contemplated to detect when an infant orpreterm infant is interacting (e.g., sucking) on the oro-motor device50. As shown in the illustrated example embodiment of FIG. 2 , an airflow sensor 54 a is comprised within the oro-motor device 50. When theinfant interacts by applying pressure along arrows 53 a, 53 b tocompress the nipple portion 52, the nipple portion deforms, causing airevacuation from an internal space within the nipple portion. The airflow sensor 54 a measures an amount of air and/or a rate of the airbeing expelled from the nipple portion 52. The air flow sensor 54 aconverts the amount of air and/or the speed of the air into an outputsignal 59 that is indicative of the pressure 53 a, 53 b that the infantis applying to the nipple portion 52. The output signal 59 iscommunicated to the audio device 10 (e.g., via wireless or wired 58signal). In one embodiment, the transceiver 60 of the oro-motor device50 transmits the output signal 59 to a transceiver 62 of the audiodevice 10 (see FIG. 5 ).

In the illustrated example embodiment of FIG. 3 , a pressure sensor 54 bis within the nipple portion 52. When the infant interacts with thepressure sensor 54 b, the pressure sensor measures the amount ofpressure 53 a, 53 b that is applied to the nipple portion 52. Thepressure sensor 54 b converts the measured pressure into an outputsignal 59 that is indicative of the pressure 53 a, 53 b that is appliedto the nipple portion 52. The output signal 59 is communicated to theaudio device 10 in the same manner as described above with regard to theair flow sensor 54 a.

In the illustrated example embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4B, an air evacuationsensor 54 c is within the nipple portion 52. FIG. 4A illustrates thenipple portion 52 having a first internal volume prior to the infantinteracting with the nipple portion. FIG. 4B illustrates the nippleportion 54 a having a second internal volume to after the infantinteracts with the nipple portion. The air evacuation sensor 54 cmonitors the amount of air evacuated, such that a total internal volumeof the nipple portion 52 is known. For example, the nipple portion 54 ahaving the second internal volume, will require a greater force toevacuate a first air volume than evacuating the first air volume fromthe nipple portion 54 a requires.

When the infant interacts with the air evacuation sensor 54 c, the airevacuation sensor measures the amount of pressure 53 a, 53 b that isapplied to the nipple portion 52 by measuring the amount of airevacuated. The evacuation sensor 54 c converts the measured pressureinto an output signal 59 that is indicative of the pressure 53 a, 53 bthat is applied to the nipple portion 52. The evacuation sensor 54 c ora smart element of the audio device 10 and/or the pacifier 50 determinesan internal volume change caused by the infant interaction, andcorrelates the amount of air evacuated and the current internal volume,to determine the pressure applied to the nipple portion 52 by theinfant. The output signal 59 is communicated to the audio device 10 inthe same manner as described above with regard to the air flow sensor 54a.

Turning to FIG. 5 , the electrical components 19 of the audio device 10of one example embodiment are illustrated. In the illustrated exampleembodiment, the electronic components 19 comprise the speaker 38configured to emit audio, an electrical circuit 34 to convert an audiosignal received through the first aperture 20 and/or a short-rangewireless interconnection signal into an audio input for the speaker 38,a microcomputer 32 to receive, compare, compute, analyze, and/orinterpret sensor signals from the pacifier 60 and communicate with acircuit 34, and/or a power supply, such as a battery 30 to power atleast one of the electronic components. In another example embodiment,the electronic components 19 comprise a light source (not shown), suchas a light emitting diode indicating that one or more features of theaudio device 10 are functioning.

In one example embodiment, the speaker 38 may comprise a small boxspeaker, one example of a suitable small box speaker includes DaytonAudio CE38M-8 1½″ Mini Speaker 8 Ohm manufactured by Dayton Audio™. Themicrocomputer 32 comprises a microprocessor, one such examplemicroprocessor would be SainSmart Nano v. 3.0 manufactured bySainSmart™. The electrical circuit 36 comprises a printed circuit board(PCB) consisting of an application specific integrated circuit, one suchPCB would be a prototyping hoard having an item number: G19388. In anexample embodiment, the microcomputer 32 comprises an MP3 player 36. TheMP3 player 36 is in electrical communication with other elements of theelectrical components 19, such as the circuit 34, the speaker 38, and/orthe battery 30.

In one example embodiment, the MP3 player 36 stores and plays audio, onesuch MP3 player would be DiyMall Mini MP3 player manufactured byDiyMall™. In this example embodiment, the battery 30 provides power tothe electrical components 19 for a duration over ten (10) hours, onesuch battery 30 is a lithium ion battery. It would be appreciated by oneof ordinary skill in the art that many different speaker, microcomputer,circuit, and/or battery types can be utilized in this application.

In the illustrated example, the audio input for the speaker 38 comprisesthe USB port 20A that is accessible through the first aperture 20. TheUSB port 20A is in wired communication 44 with an input/output (I/O)port of the microcomputer 32. The charging input 22A for the battery 30is in wired communication 40, 42 with the microcomputer 32 and thebattery 30, respectively. The speaker 38 is in wired communication 46with an I/O port of the microcomputer 32. In an example embodiment, thespeaker 38 is in direct wired communication with the MP3 player 36.

In an example embodiment, one or more switches are in wiredcommunication with one or more I/O ports of the microcomputer 32.Actuation of a first switch turns audio on or off, actuation of a secondswitch fast forwards the audio, and actuation of a third switch rewindsthe audio. It would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art,that the one or more switches may perform multiple functions in responseto actuation, such as altering an interval setting of the audio, avolume of the audio, etc. In another example embodiment, the intervalsetting of the audio device 10 are programmable to control a number oftimes per day the audio is emitted. Additionally, the battery 30 enablesthe audio device 10 to he cordless, preventing dangers associated withcords, such as the infant becoming fatally tangled or constricted by acord inside the isolette or crib.

In the illustrated example embodiment of FIG. 5 , the electroniccomponents 19 comprise an interface 37 in wired communication with anI/O port of the microcomputer 32. The interface 37 can be used to altera duration, a decibel level, a play per day interval of the audio,and/or other assigned functions of the one or more switches.Additionally the interface 37 can be used to select one or more audioselections stored on the MP3 player and/or on a USB drive connected tothe USB port 20A. In another example embodiment, the interface 37 ispresented on a secondary device 39 in communication with the audiodevice 10 via the short-range interconnection signal.

The audio device 10 when used with infants provides a developmentalbrain benefit. The audio device 10 is programmed, via a language system21 or some other program, to perform a predetermined function 67responsive to receiving the output signal 59 from the oro-motor device50, indicating a pressure over a pressure threshold 69 has been appliedto the nipple portion 52. Wherein, the pressure threshold 69 isdetermined based upon an age, maturity, and/or previous pressuresuccessfully applied by the preterm or premature infant and/or terminfant, or child. Wherein, age means chronological age and/ordevelopmental age. In one example embodiment, the predetermined function67 is playing a pre-recorded age appropriate audio recording 71 of acaretaker's voice (e.g., a mother's voice, a relative's voice, a women'svoice, etc.). The audio recording 71 is played for a predeterminedamount of time (e.g., 10 seconds) and stops unless a second signal isreceived from the oro-motor device 50, indicating a sensed pressure overthe pressure threshold 69 has again been applied to the nipple portion52.

In another example embodiment, the microcomputer 32 of the audio device10 is running the language system 21 that accepts parameters including,inputs, such as an infant's age, a preferred language, song durationversus reading duration, etc. The language system 21, via themicrocomputer 32, is in electrical communication with an output screen,such as a screen of the secondary device 39, an attached screen, theinterface 37, etc. The language system 21, via memory of themicrocomputer 32, stores audio recordings in various languages, forvarious ages, instructions for using the language algorithm, pressurethresholds 69 associated with various ages, etc.

In one example embodiment, the secondary device 39 is a remote computersystem. The computer system includes desktop, laptop, tablet hand-heldpersonal computing device, IAN, WAN, WWW, and the like, running on anynumber of known operating systems and are accessible for communicationwith remote data storage, such as a cloud, host operating computer, viaa world-wide-web or Internet. In another example embodiment, themicrocomputer 32 comprises a function specific circuit board having forexample, an application specific analog circuit (ASIC) that operates thelanguage system 21.

In another example embodiment, the microcomputer 32 comprises aprocessor, a data storage, computer system memory that includesread-accessible-memory (“RAM”), read-only-memory (“ROM”) and/or aninput/output interface. The microcomputer 32 executes instructions bynon-transitory computer readable medium either internal or externalthrough the processor that communicates to the processor via inputinterface and/or electrical communications, such as from the secondarydevice 39 or the oro-motor device 50. In yet another example embodiment,the microcomputer 32 communicates with the Internet, a network such as aLAN, WAN, and/or a cloud, input/output devices such as flash drives,remote devices such as a smart phone or tablet, and displays such as theinterface 37.

In one example embodiment, the language system 21, via memory of themicrocomputer 32, stores audio recordings 71 in various languages, forvarious ages, instructions for using the language algorithm, thepressure thresholds 69 associated with various ages, etc. In anotherexample embodiment, the language system 21 retrieves audio recordings invarious languages, for various ages, instructions for using the languagealgorithm, the pressure thresholds 69 associated with various age thatare stored remotely, such as on a cloud, or via the internet. In thisexample embodiment, the audio recordings 71 comprise recordings ofcaretakers reciting infant directed speech (e.g. “who is the hungrybaby, are you the hungry baby”), wherein infant directed speech includesspeech directed to infants, children, and/or adults. The audiorecordings 71 comprise active reading and/or singing comprisingrecording sound that elicits engagement from a person who is listening.

In another example embodiment of the present disclosure, the audiorecording comprises a pre-recorded age appropriate audio recording inforeign language (e.g., Spanish, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Farsi,etc.). The foreign language audio recordings 71 comprise recordings ofinfant directed speech in the selected language. The foreign languageaudio recordings 71 comprise active reading and/or singing. Infantsand/or children exposed to pre-recorded age appropriate audio recordingin a given foreign language were found to have a much greater speechdifferentiation ability in that language after an average of twenty (20)sessions with the audio device 10 and language system 21. In one exampleembodiment, as session comprises exposing the infant, child, and/oradult to the pre-recorded age appropriate audio recording in foreignlanguage. For example, an infant, child, and/or adult exposed topre-recorded age appropriate audio recording in French showed a markedand statistically significant increase in the ability to differentiateFrench language than in languages that the infants were not exposed to.Further, there were no deleterious outcomes, such as the infant or childincreasing sound differentiation in the foreign language at the expenseof poorer outcomes in the infant or child's native language.

Recorded speech is “infant-directed”, with intent, prosody, and/oremotional envelope directed towards infants (e.g., as in publishedliterature disclosed below). Suggested and/or recorded speech is alsoinfant directed and “active” with engagement of the intended reader inmind. In addition, content will meet age-appropriate norms for auditorycontent as in Table 1 (Below).

The audio output parameters for both English and foreign languagepre-recorded age appropriate audio recordings are based upon theinfant's age is disclosed Table 1, below:

TABLE 1 AGE BASED CHART FOR AUDIO CONTENT FOR AUDIO DEVICE Infant's AgeAudio Output Parameters 67, 75, for Audio Recordings 71 28-29 PMA startto Total time per day: 20 minutes 32 PMA Total time per week: 3 to 4times a week Appropriate content: Simple songs with only 2 to 3 chordsAccapella - single voice Sung at less than 60 bpm Range of melody only 1octave. Stepwise melody, no intervals over a third. Volume: Played atless than 55 dB on scale C 32 PMA-36 PMA Duration per audio emission: 20minutes Total time per day: No more than 6 times per day (totaling 3hours) Duration of silence: at least 30 minutes Total time per week: 5days a week Appropriate content: Simple songs with no more than 4 chordsSingle voice and single instrumentation Instrumentation played singlenotes not chords Range of melody only 1 octaves. Melody with nointervals over a 6th. Appropriate tempo: Sung and played at less than 60bpm. Volume: Played at less than 55 dB on scale C 36 PMA-40 PMA Durationper audio emission: 30 minutes Total time per day: No more than 8 timesper day (totaling 4 hours) Duration of silence: Must have at least 30minutes Total time per week: 7 days a week Appropriate content: Singlevoice and single instrumentation Instrumentation must play single notesnot chords Range of melody only 1 octaves. Melody with no intervals overa 6th. Appropriate tempo: Sung and played at less than 60 bpm. Volume:Played at less than 55 dB on scale C 0 to 3 months Duration per audioemission: 30 minutes at a time Total time per day: No more than 8 timesper day (totaling 4 hours) Duration of silence: Must have at least 30minutes Total time per week: 7 days a week Appropriate content: Singlevoice and single instrumentation Instrumentation can be multiple notesat once No restrictions on melody range Appropriate tempo: Sung andplayed at a more upbeat tempo between 60 to 120 bpm to promote playfulmood Appropriate tempo: Sung and played at less than 60 bpm to promoterelaxation and sleep. Volume: Played at less than 65 dB on scale C. 3 to6 months Duration per audio emission: 30 minutes at a time Total timeper day: No restrictions Duration of silence: at least 30 minutes Totaltime per week: Multiple voices and instrumentation (limit to 4)Appropriate content: Recommend no sudden changes or sounds. Norestrictions on melody range Appropriate tempo: Sung and played at amore upbeat tempo between 60 to 120 bpm to promote playful moodAppropriate tempo: Sung and played at less than 60 bpm to promoterelaxation and sleep. Volume: Played at less than 75 dB on scale C. 6 to12 months Duration per audio emission: 45 minutes at a time Total timeper day: No restrictions on how many times per day. Duration of silence:Recommend at least 30 minutes Total time per week: 7 days a weekAppropriate content: Multiple voices and instrumentation No restrictionson instrumentation or melody Appropriate tempo: Sung and played at amore upbeat tempo between 60 to 120 bpm to promote playful moodAppropriate tempo: Sung and played at less than 60 bpm to promoterelaxation and sleep. Volume: Played at less than 85 dB on scale C.

The pressure threshold 69 parameters based upon the infant's age isdisclosed Table 2, below:

TABLE 2 PRESSURE THRESHOLD 69 THRESHOLD PAUSE TIME AGE PRESSURE mmHGBEFORE STOP secs 34-36 weeks 15-15 10-15 36 weeks-3 months 20-50 10 postterm 3-6 months 50  5-10

In FIG. 6 , an example method 600 of oro-motor infant activated audioemission is illustrated. At 602, an oro-motor device 50, present in anawake infant's mouth, sends a signal indicating a pressure of an infantinteraction with the nipple portion 52 of the oro-motor device. At 604,the audio device 10 receives the signal from the oro-motor device 50. At606, responsive to the signal being over a threshold 69 (e.g.,indicating the pressure applied by the infant is over the pressurethreshold 69), the audio device 10 plays the age appropriate audiorecording 71 for a predetermined duration 75. In one example embodiment,the predetermined duration 75 that is determined based upon theattention span of the preterm or premature infant (e.g., thepredetermined duration 75 does not exceed the duration of the infant'sattention span). At 608, responsive to the signal being below thethreshold 69 (e.g., indicating the pressure applied by the infant isbelow the pressure threshold 69), the audio device 10 does not play theage appropriate audio recording 71 for a predetermined duration 75. At610, steps 602-608 are repeated until the audio device 10 has played theage appropriate audio recording for an age appropriate total duration 77(e.g., as determined based upon the infant's age and maturity and knownattention spans of infants of that age and/or maturity).

In FIG. 7 , a second example method 700 of oro-motor infant activatedaudio emission is illustrated. At 702, the ore-motor device 50, presentin an awake infant's mouth, sends a signal indicating a sensed pressureof an infant interaction with the nipple portion 52 is over the maturityand/or age appropriate predetermined threshold 69. At 704, the audiodevice 10 receives the signal from the oro-motor device 50. At 706, theaudio device 10 plays the age appropriate audio recording for apredetermined duration 75. At 708, the audio device 10 raises thethreshold 69 based upon the preterm/premature infant's previouslymeasured pressure application to the nipple portion 52. For example, ifthe infant is sucking 5 mmHg, above the threshold 69, then the threshold69 will be raised to that pressure, or just below that pressure. In thisexample embodiment, one or more thresholds 69 are comprised in 5 mmHgincrements. Thus, the oro-motor device 50 promotes better suckingbehavior in the infant, and better captures the infant's attention, asthe infant has to gradually increase their effort to receive caretaker'svoice. At 710, steps 702-708 are repeated until the audio device 10 hasplayed the age appropriate audio recording for an age appropriate totalduration (e.g., as determined based upon the infant's age and maturityand known attention spans of infants of that age and/or maturity). Inone example embodiment, the caretaker's voice is used to comfort orreassure an infant or child (such as when the infant or child is atdaycare, in a hospital room, or otherwise separated from theircaretaker) and/or help lull the infant or child to sleep. In anotherexample embodiment, the caretaker's voice is used to help bring aninfant or child out of anesthesia (e.g., without or without theoro-motor device 50). In yet another example embodiment, the caretaker'svoice is used to educate an infant or child, by having the caretakerrecord audio comprising age appropriate information.

In FIG. 8 , a third example method 800 of oro-motor infant activatedaudio emission is illustrated. At 802, the oro-motor device 50, presentin an awake infant's mouth, sends a signal indicating a sensed pressureof an infant interaction with the nipple portion 52 is below thematurity and/or age appropriate predetermined threshold 69. At 604, theaudio device 10 receives the signal 59 from the oro-motor device 50. At706, the audio device 10 lowers the threshold 69 based upon thepreterm/premature infant's previously measured pressure application tothe nipple portion 52. For example, if the infant is sucking 5 mmHgbelow the threshold 69, then the threshold will be lowered to thatpressure, or just below that pressure. By lowering the threshold 69 whenneeded, infants can be gradually taught to increase the pressure oftheir interactions with the nipple portion 52, to learn how to bettersuck on the nipple portion 52. Steps 706 is typically repeated until theaudio device 10 has been signaled to play the age appropriate audiorecording, based upon the infant's interaction with the nipple portion52. Once the audio device 10 has been successfully signaled to place theage appropriate audio recording 71, the audio device will typicallyfollow the method 700 steps 702-710. The methods 700 and 800, generate afeedback loop that will create customized infant protocols to teach theinfants better sucking habits. The sucking habits of individual infantswill be stored, and applied in subsequent sessions with the oro-motordevice 50.

In FIG. 9 , an example system method 900 is illustrated. At 902, a user(e.g., a parent, a caretaker, etc.) creates an account 99 for a specificchild. At 904 the user enters data about the specific child, includingbut not limited to, the child's name, age in months, a languagepreference, native language, and/or a song to reading ratio. At 906,responsive to the age of the specific child being 6 months and under,the language system 21 outputs a first recommendation. In this exampleembodiment, the first recommendation comprises using the oro-motordevice 50 in conjunction with the audio device 10. At 908, the languagesystem 21 assigns the suck threshold 69 and pause duration for thesensor 54 based upon the age of the specific child (see Table 2). At912, the language system 21 instructs the interface 37 to present anoption for the user to choose a default setting, a non-native language,and/or a non-1:1 song-read ratio. In some example embodiments, the userselects at least one of the default setting, the non-native language,and/or the non-1:1 song-read ratio when entering the data about thechild at 904. At 914, the user chooses the default settings (e.g.,native language and/or 1:1 song to read ratio). At 916, the languagesystem 21 assigns the default language as the native language and thedefault ratio as 1:1. At 918, responsive to the user and/or othershaving pre-recorded audio recordings for the child, the language system21, at 920, generates age specific instructions, and displays saidinstructions to the user via the interface 37 (e.g., placing theoro-motor 50 device in the mouth). At 922, responsive to the languagesystem 21 determining age specific instructions have been followed, at924, the audio device 10 plays a program 71 that correlates to theselections made by the user and the child's age (e.g., the defaultsetting).

In some embodiments, new users, users who want to alter theirage-appropriate audio recordings 71, and/or users whose children haveaged into new parameters record new audio recordings. At 934, thelanguage system 21 prompts the user to record an audio recording. In oneexample embodiment, the user is familiar with how to record the audiorecording 71, and what is appropriate subject matter (see, Table 1). At936, responsive to the user selecting a provide examples option, thelanguage system 21 generates age appropriate and child specific examplesof infant directed speech (e.g., including the child's name). In thisexample embodiment, the user follows the instructions, includinginstructions to engage in active reading. In one example embodiment, theinstructions comprise between 1-20 instructions for recordable subjectmatter. At 938, the user recites the examples and the language system 21stores the user's audio recordings (e.g., in a memory component of themicrocomputer 32, in a remote location that is accessible to themicrocomputer 32, etc.). At 940, the language system 21 generates a mixof user audio recordings to generate an age appropriate audio recordingconforming to Table 1. At 920, the language system 21 generates agespecific instructions, and displays said instructions to the user viathe interface 37 (e.g., placing the oro-motor 50 device in the child'smouth). At 922, responsive to the language system 21 determining agespecific instructions have been followed, at 924, the audio device 10plays a program comprising the user's audio recording and/or the mixeduser's audio recording, that correlates to the selections made by theuser and the child's age (e.g., duration of play, song to reading ratio,etc.).

At 910, responsive to the child's age being over 6 months, the languagesystem 21 outputs a second recommendation. In one example embodiment,the second recommendation comprises utilizing a hand held sensor ratherthan the oro-motor device 50. One suitable example of thehand-held-sensor is a scaled up oro-motor device 50 in which the nipple52 is large enough to be squeezed by the infant to provide varyingoutput signals 59. In one example embodiment, the hand-held-sensorcomprises a ball or toy having an interactive sensor. The interactivesensor comprising at least one of a pressure sensor, a tilt sensor, oraccelerometer. In another example embodiment, the hand-held-sensorcomprises a mat or other device that comprises the interactive sensor.In an example embodiment, the hand-held-sensor is a variation that isused by older children and/or adults. In another example embodiment, thehand-held-sensor and the oro-motor device 50 are referred tocollectively as sensing device. At 930, the user selects the non-1:1song-read ratio.

At 926, the user inputs the non-native language option. At 928,responsive to the user inputting the non-native language option, thelanguage system 21 instructs the audio device 10 (e.g., via themicrocomputer) to play an age appropriate non-native song and/or readingas determined by Table 1. In one example embodiment, the language system21 provides the user with the age appropriate non-native song and/orreading comprising infant directed speech, active reading, and/orsinging from a native non-native language speaker. At 920, the languagesystem 21 generates age specific instructions, and displays theinstructions to the user via the interface 37 (e.g., placing theoro-motor 50 device in the child's mouth, placing the hand-held-sensorinto a child's or adult's hand or within their reach). At 922,responsive to the language system 21 determining age specificinstructions have been followed, at 924, the audio device 10 plays aprogram of infant directed speech that correlates to the selections madeby the user and the child's age (e.g., duration of play, song to readingratio, language, etc.).

At 932, responsive to the user selecting the non-1:1 song-read ratio andthe user also selecting the non-native language, the language system 21instructs the audio device 10 via the microcontroller 32 to play soundsbased upon the user's input song-read ratio and language selection.Responsive to the user also selecting the non-native language, thelanguage system 21 will proceed to method step 920. Responsive to theuser selecting solely the non-1:1 song-read ratio, the language system21 proceeds to the method step 934 and proceeds as described above withregards to methods steps 934-940, 920-924.

The audio device 10 allows for a voice recognition by presentingparent's voices to infants when parents cannot be with the infant whilesimultaneously promoting active learning in the infant, by presentingthe parent's voice in response to successful sucking. Infant-directedspeech sounds are known to improve language development of the infants,and active learning using the combination of suck activated directedspeech and parental speech recognition promotes better verbal outcomesof preterm and/or premature infants at two years of age. At manyhospitals parental visitation happens infrequently and for small timeperiods. The audio device 10 allows infants to receive their parents'speech, in a safe and developmentally appropriate manner while teachingaid infants how to suck and focus on the speech. Further, because theaudio device 10 may be programmed to emit audio at the preset decibellevel, for the preset duration, and at the preset intervals,inappropriate (e.g., too loud, too long, too frequent) sound exposurecan be avoided. Inappropriate sound exposure can damage braindevelopment of infants. Additionally, where a caretaker or parentchooses pre-recorded age appropriate audio recordings in a specificforeign language, the infant or child showed marked sounddifferentiation ability to differentiate that specific language aftertwenty (20) sessions, and will be primed to acquire language skills bothspeaking and understanding in that specific language as they age anddevelop language skills.

The bilingual brain benefit is developed during infancy, when the brainplasticity for language is highest. Infants, from even before birth,specialize their brain's ability to differentiate phonemes (speechsounds) of different languages. However as infants age, their brainsspecialize to the native language(s) that they are exposed to duringinfancy. Typically, there are 800 different speech sound that are drawnupon across multiple languages, with an average language utilizingbetween about 40-70 different speech sounds. In the case of English,approximately 44 speech sounds are utilized. Typically, an infant raisedin a monolingual household will lose the ability to differentiate thespeech sounds not used in their native language, and therefore lose theability to create those same speech sounds when they do begin speaking.When a child is exposed to multiple languages during infancy, forexample by the audio device 10, the brain develops an ability to recruitother parts of the brain to process language, and suppress one set ofspeech sounds in favor of another set depending on which language(s) theinfant is exposed to (e.g., utilizing executive function, which isassociated with decision making, attention span, and/or delaying theonset of dementia and Alzheimer's in late life). An infant exposed tomultiple languages will have a brain that more easily learns thespecific non-native language that the infant was exposed to, as well ashave an overall advantage for learning non-native languages (e.g.,non-native languages the infant was not exposed to). This is discussedfurther in Kovacs. A. M., and J. Mehler. “Cognitive Gains in 7-Month-OldBilingual Infants.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,vol. 106. no. 16, 2009, pp. 6556-6560., doi:10.1073/pnas.0811323106;Kovacs, A. M., and J. Mehler. “Cognitive Gains in 7-Month-Old BilingualInfants.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 106, no.16, 2009, pp. 6556-6560, doi:10.1.073/pnas.0811323106. Kalashnikova.Marina, et al. “Infant-Directed Speech Facilitates Seven-Month-OldInfants' Cortical Tracking of Speech.” Scientific Reports, vol. 8, no.1, 2018, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32150-6, and Kalashnikova, Marina, etal. “Infant-Directed Speech Facilitates Seven-Month-Old Infants'Cortical Tracking of Speech.” Scientific Reports, vol. 8, no. 1, 2018,doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32150-6.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing frontthe scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims below.Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The disclosure is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In onenon-limiting embodiment the terms are defined to be within for example10%, in another possible embodiment within 5%, in another possibleembodiment within 1%, and in another possible embodiment within 0.5%.The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected or in contacteither temporarily or permanently, although not necessarily directly andnot necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured”in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

To the extent that the materials for any of the foregoing embodiments orcomponents thereof are not specified, it is to be appreciated thatsuitable materials would be known by one of ordinary skill in the artfor the intended purposes.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of utilizing an oro-motor device toactivate an audio device, the method comprising the steps of: providingan oro-motor device comprising a sensor and a depressible portionproducing an output signal when said depressible portion is compressedyielding a first measured pressure over an age appropriate predeterminedthreshold applied to the depressible portion; responsive to said outputsignal, playing an age appropriate audio recording for a predeterminedduration on an audio device; and increasing the age appropriatepredetermined threshold to a raised threshold proportionally to adifference between the first measured pressure to the depressibleportion and the age appropriate predetermined threshold.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising the step of signaling that the oro-motordevice has had a second measured pressure below the age appropriatepredetermined threshold applied to the depressible portion.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, responsive to said signaling, lowering the ageappropriate predetermined threshold to a lowered thresholdproportionally to a difference between the first measured pressureapplication to the depressible portion and the age appropriatepredetermined threshold.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprisingthe step of playing the age appropriate audio recording for thepredetermined duration, wherein the predetermined duration is between 5seconds to 25 seconds.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising thestep of limiting daily playing of the age appropriate audio recording toan age appropriate total duration, wherein the age appropriate totalduration is between one half hour to about 1 hour.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the playing an age appropriate audio recordingcomprises at least one of: playing a recording of a voice of acaretaker; and providing and playing an age appropriate audio recordingin a foreign language
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providingthe depressible portion comprises providing at least one of a nipple, aball, and a mat.
 8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storingmachine executable instructions for utilizing an oro-motor device toactivate an audio device comprising: a language system in electroniccommunication with the audio device, a sensing device comprising asensor, and an interface, the interface configured to receive user dataand the sensing device configured to send signals to the languagesystem, the language system providing at least one of: a firstrecommendation or a second recommendation for sensing device sensorusage; a sensor threshold and sensor readings of the sensing device; aduration of audio output; and specific parameters for audio output; andthe language system based upon the signal from the sensing device,indicating the sensor threshold has been exceeded, sends instructions tothe audio device to emit an appropriate audio recording that conforms tothe specific parameters for audio output for the assigned duration ofaudio output.
 9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8wherein the language system instructs the interface to offer at leastone of a default option, a non-native language option, and a non 1:1read-song ratio to a user.
 10. The non-transitory computer readablemedium of claim 9 wherein responsive to the language system receivinginstructions to provide the non-native language option, the languagesystem provides non-native language songs and readings that conform tothe identified specific parameters, and instructs the audio device toemit audio comprising the non-native language songs and readings for theassigned duration.
 11. The non-transitory computer readable medium ofclaim 9 wherein responsive to the language system receiving instructionsto provide the non 1:1 read-song ratio option, the language systemgenerates a read-song mix that corresponds to a selected song to readingratio, and instructs the audio device to emit audio comprising theread-song mix for the assigned duration.
 12. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 9 wherein responsive to the language systemreceiving instructions to provide the default option, the languagesystem generates a pre-recorded audio recording that corresponds to thedefault song to reading ratio and the default language, and instructsthe audio device to emit audio comprising the default song to readingratio and the default language for the assigned duration.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein responsive tothe language system receiving instructions to provide the defaultoption, the language system generates samples of appropriate subjectmatter to be recorded by a user, and sends instructions to the audiodevice to record the user reciting the samples to generate userrecordings.
 14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13,wherein the samples comprise user input data comprising at least one ofa child's name, songs selected based upon a child's age, and readingsselected based upon a child's age.
 15. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 13, wherein the language system at least one ofalters and combines the user recordings to conform to the specificparameters for audio output to comprise altered or combined userrecordings, the altered or combined user recordings comprises theappropriate audio recording.
 16. A language system comprising an audiodevice coupled an oro-motor device, the system comprising: the oro-motordevice comprising a nipple housing a sensor, wherein the sensor producesan output signal when said nipple portion compressed to a pressure overa first measured pressure over an age appropriate predeterminedthreshold; the audio device comprising a microcomputer in electricalcommunication with the oro-motor device, a microphone, a speaker, and aninterface, the microcomputer comprising a language system, the languagesystem responsive to a user input received via the interface, assigns asensor threshold and sensor readings of the oro-motor device, assigns aduration of audio output, and identifies specific parameters for audiooutput, the language system based upon the output signal from theoro-motor device indicating the age appropriate predetermined thresholdhas been exceeded, sends instructions to the audio device to emit anappropriate audio recording that conforms to the specific parameters foraudio output for the assigned duration of audio output.
 17. The languagesystem of claim 16, wherein the specific parameters for audio outputcomprise at least one of an age dependent volume, an age dependentnumber of intervals per day and per week, and age appropriate content.18. The language system of claim 16, wherein the language system raisesthe age appropriate predetermined threshold to a raised thresholdproportionally to a difference between a first measured pressureapplication to the nipple portion and the age appropriate predeterminedthreshold.
 19. The language system of claim 16, wherein the interfacedisplays an option to emit audio comprising at least one of a defaultrecording, a non-native language recording, and a non-default read-songratio recording to the user.
 20. The language system of claim 16,wherein responsive to the user selecting the non-native languagerecording, the language system identifies non-native language songs andreadings that conform to the identified specific parameters, andinstructs the audio device to emit audio comprising the non-nativelanguage songs and readings for the assigned duration.